Digital Commons Network^™

Social Work Interventions And Emergency Room Utilization, Paige Elaine Bartholomew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Emergency Room (ER) resources are a valuable commodity that are often misused as a point of care into the health system. Families who have no medical home and psychosocial needs frequent the ER on a regular basis to access care and necessary resources. Primary care and psychosocial ER utilization is costly and inefficient. Reducing avoidable visits is an important health system goal that must be balanced with the desire to deliver quality care to every family in a fiscally responsible manner that promotes long term health and wellness. In pediatrics, the first step will be to better understand the frequent …

Ai Case Study Assignment, Jeffrey Anvari-Clark

AI Assignment Library

This assignment is intended to students develop digital literacy and social work skills by creating a social work case note using ChatGPT, Claude, or a similar AI software. By using the software, creating the note, and reflecting on the process, students will learn to: 1. appropriately integrate advanced AI technology into their work as helping professionals, 2. analyze the benefits and limits of AI usage (along with ethical considerations), 3. create a case note that is clear, concise, and comprehensive, and 4. evaluate the role of social demographics on individual well-being. The assignment is for a 200-level course, a prerequisite …

Msw Portfolio, Rylie Shade

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

MSW portfolio, practicing Social work in Missoula, San Francisco, and Oakland.

The Correlation Between Social Work Encounters And Health Outcomes In Children With Cystic Fibrosis, Sophia A. St Marie, Heather M. Thomas Md

Posters: 2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact social workers have on the health of children with cystic fibrosis and to see if an increased number of social work encounters is an indicator of poor health in these children.

Methods: The electric medical record (EPIC) was used to collect data on 193 patients born between 2000 and 2024 (0 to 23 years). Data from June 1, 2019, to June 1, 2024 (or birth to June 1, 2024) was considered. Physical information, namely age (months and years), mutation (homozygous, heterozygous, or other), BMI (or weight/length) percentile …

Msw Professional Portfolio, Michelle Davis

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

A comprehensive review of the professional development required for an advanced integrated social work practitioner.

Cycles Of Change: Msw Portfolio, Paul T. Everett

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this portfolio is to share my experience with these cycles from the individuals I have worked with, to families, groups and my community, implementing Just Practice’s own core process cycle of cultivating social justice through an integrated approach to practice. Relying on examples from my coursework and practicum opportunities, I offer critical self-reflection of my own values and assumptions shaping my ethical and professional behavior, demonstrating my growth as an advanced integrated practitioner. Incorporated are the theoretical approaches I have utilized in bringing historical, cultural, and political perspectives towards understanding difference, oppression, and social-justice oriented action. I …

Accessibility Of Services For Transgender Adolescents From A Child Welfare Perspective, Eduardo Cedeno

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The following is a quantitative study with an explorative element conducted at Southern California University with a convenience sample of 23 social worker participants with experience in child welfare. A Qualtrics questionnaire was administered during the Fall 2023 semester and was used to assess the social workers perception, preparedness, and knowledge in providing services to transgender youth in foster care. The study aimed to gain an understanding of the overall perception of the effect in available transgender resources and training within the child welfare system.

Conversations About Telehealth Eating Disorder Treatment: Participants Share Their Experiences, Rachel Allen Msw

All Student Scholarship

This phenomenological study explores the use of telehealth as a modality in the treatment of eating disorders through the lenses of feminist, standpoint, and social constructionist theories. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was utilized to offer continuity of service at a local, urban eating disorder treatment program in the Northeast. Post pandemic, this modality continued for staffing and accessibility reasons. However, little is known about this treatment from the perspective of service recipients. Intensive semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with six adults who had completed the telehealth program to learn about individuals’ experiences with this modality. …

A Study Of Diet Culture In Lgbtqia+ Women’S Communities, Cait Rush Msw

All Student Scholarship

Diet culture is a pervasive aspect of the sociocultural environment characterized by contradictory messages about food and health, and a moral imperative to attain thinness (Jovanovski & Jaeger, 2022). Hallmarks of diet culture include body dissatisfaction, lowered self-esteem, and adverse mental and physical health outcomes (Calogero et al., 2018; Kinavey & Cool, 2019; Puhl et al., 2021). While research suggests that LGBTQIA+ community involvement may play a role in safeguarding positive body image (Dahlenburg et al., 2021; Hanley & McLaren, 2015), studies on body dissatisfaction among queer women have yielded mixed, often contradictory results. The purpose of this study was …

Impact Of School-Based Mental Health Services On Student Attendance At A Southern California School District, Johanna Garcia-Fernandez, Morgan Stokes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

When children experience trauma, it impacts their development, mental stability, learning, and behavior. This causes an increased need for prevention and early intervention mental health services within the public school system. Some California school districts offer mental health services students can utilize at their schools. Social workers are best equipped to assist and provide students with the necessary mental health resources due to their education, training, and role. This study used secondary data from 101 randomly selected Southern California school district participants. This study examined the relationship between children’s attendance, age, gender, primary diagnosis, living arrangements, number of traumatic events …

Covid-19, Social Isolation, And Msw Students’ Mental Health, Cassandra Barajas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

New literature has found that the COVID-19 pandemic has grown the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst college students (University Communications, 2021). The purpose of this research study was to further explore how the sudden restrictions and isolation protocols enforced and caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health symptoms amongst MSW students. The study sample consisted of social work students who were 18 years old or older and who were enrolled in a Master of Social Work Program at some point in time during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

This study was conducted using a post-positivism approach and by …

Advocacy And Amendments For Jillian's Law, Julie Hanse, Jalen All, Ashton Jones, Taylor D. Sanderson, Megan Stephens

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

In response to the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Jillian Ludwig, Tennessee lawmakers have advanced HB 1640 and SB 1769 through the legislature, garnering wide-reaching bipartisan and public support. The bill, dubbed Jillian’s Law, would prohibit the purchase or possession of a firearm by individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial, providing a much-needed piece of gun reform in a state with little to no restrictions. However, Jillian’s Law has raised concerns among disability advocates due to its punitive effect on people with disabilities. If passed, the law would streamline the process of involuntarily committing an individual who has been convicted of …

Stories Of Dismantling Whiteness In Social Work Educational Spaces, Jeanean Mohr

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Social work and higher education are rooted in systems of racism and exclusion and continue to operate as racialized spaces. As the social work profession grapples with its past and calls upon social work educators to support efforts to undo structural racism, paying attention to what is happening in educational spaces is essential. In this study, I examined the stories and tensions of White Social Work faculty engaged in efforts to dismantle whiteness in their classrooms, departments, and universities. Using narrative inquiry, I interviewed nine White faculty from different universities representing five regions across the United States. I explored their …

Jackson Davis's Portfolio, Jackson J. Davis

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Adjustments To Social Work Practice During The Covid-19 Pandemic In North Carolina: Effects On Burnout And Commitment, Aaron R. Brown, Jayme E. Walters, Aubrey E. Jones, Lara Cates

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for social workers in the U.S. and abroad has increased. There is demand for more social workers in North Carolina due to ongoing and increasing mental health, substance use disorder, and child welfare needs. COVID-19 has taken a toll on the personal and professional lives of social workers, and research is needed to understand the pandemic’s effects on burnout and commitment among social workers. The present study sought to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the personal and professional lives of social workers practicing in North Carolina and to determine how …

Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Asian Consumers Of The Maryland Behavioral Health Service System, Kota Takayama Ph.D, Teresa Crowe Ph.D

JADARA

This exploratory study examines the demographic profile and diagnoses of deaf and hard of hearing Asian consumers in Maryland who received behavioral healthcare services from January 2016 to January 2019. Results show that: 1) most deaf consumers lived in private residences, 2) most consumers felt somewhat satisfactory in their mental health recovery, 3) almost half had mood disorder diagnoses, 4) nearly 25% had a schizophrenia diagnosis which was more than three times higher than the prevalence for non-Asian populations, and 5) deaf Asian consumers were more likely to have alcohol-related disorders. The discussion includes comparisons with other racial and ethnic …

Toward Equal Access: A Model For Lay Advocacy Programs Serving People Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Melissa Bell

JADARA

Advocacy programs are prevalent among state government agencies that specialize in serving persons who are deaf or hard of hearing around the United States. The work is crucial to ensuring equal access and equal opportunity, yet the lay advocacy profession is not yet formalized with certification, ethical standards, or training programs for advocates serving this population. Research was conducted to advance efforts to maximize these programs’ effectiveness by compiling components of an ideal model for lay advocacy programs. Directors from state agencies that specialize in serving this population around the country refined the model and described the structure of their …

"Better Equipped"? Examining The Role Of Social Work In Clinical Countering Violent Extremism, David Yuzva Clement

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Hate and violent extremism persist in communities, online environments, and societies across the globe. In addition to their most violent expressions, including hate crimes, extremist and terrorist violence, these phenomena wield severe negative, detrimental, traumatic, and intergenerational impacts. Grounded in evidenced-based policy, comprehensive prevention and intervention efforts, as well as the transfer of knowledge across scientific disciplines, a whole-of-society approach is fundamental to prevent and counter hatred, violence, and extremism. Although violent radicalization and associated societal problems are advancing at unprecedented speeds, preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) is an emerging intervention field in behavioural health and social sciences. While …

Improving Field Education For Social Work In Vietnam: Intern Supervisors’ Perspectives Of The Current State And Potential Solutions, Megan Aikawa, Meekyung Han, Trang T. Nguyen, Linh Dinh, Minh Thanh Bui

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Research has identified challenges associated with the implementation of competency-based social work field education in Vietnam. However, there is limited information available from intern supervisors, who have unique perspectives at the crux of social work training and service delivery. An exploratory phenomenological qualitative approach was used to explore their experiences and perceptions through online interviews. Four categories were identified: diverse implementation of a common framework, rudimentary expectations and activities, challenges to implementation, and opportunities for improvement. These findings suggest that a multidimensional approach is needed, including improved collaborations between field agencies and universities to empower students, intern supervisors, and faculty.

Effects Of The Sacramento Neighborhood Alcohol Prevention Project On Rates Of Child Abuse And Neglect 7 Years Post-Implementation (1999–2010), Bridget Freisthler, Jennifer Price Wolf

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Introduction: Evaluations of alcohol environmental prevention efforts examine short-term effects of these interventions on alcohol-related problems. We examine whether the effects of the Sacramento Neighborhood Alcohol Prevention Project (SNAPP), an alcohol environmental intervention aimed to reduce alcohol-related problems in two neighbourhoods, on child abuse and neglect remained 7 years post-implementation. Methods: SNAPP used a quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design, where intervention activities occurred in the South area, followed by those in the North area 2 years later. Our sample size is 3912 space–time units (326 census block groups × 12 years [1999–2010]). Outcomes were measured at the household level and …

Health Disparities In One Of The World’S Most Progressive Countries: A Scoping Review Of Mental Health And Substance Use Among Sexual And Gender Minority People In The Netherlands, Tonda L. Hughes, Lauren Bochicchio, Laurie Drabble, Maaike Muntinga, Jan S. Jukema, Cindy B. Veldhuis, Sunčica Bruck, Henny Bos

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Evidence from many parts of the world shows that sexual and gender minority (SGM) people have poorer health than their cisgender heterosexual counterparts. Minority stressors, particularly stigma and discrimination, have been identified as major contributors to sexual orientation- and gender identity-related health disparities, particularly negative mental health and behavioral health outcomes. To better understand factors that contribute to these disparities, we conducted a scoping review of SGM mental health and substance use research in the Netherlands—a country with a long-standing reputation as a pioneer in SGM equality. Methods: Using Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and the PRISMA-ScR protocol, we searched …

Using Ecological Momentary Assessments To Understand How Drinking During Special Occasions Relates To Parenting Behaviors, Bridget Freisthler, Joselyn Sarabia, Jennifer Price Wolf

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Drinking on special occasions (e.g., Super Bowl, Christmas) often results in more alcohol consumed. Further, police often report higher levels of crime, such as assaults and domestic violence, on days of major sporting events (e.g., Super Bowl, World Cup). Yet, drinking behaviors of parents during special occasions or large sporting events have not been assessed for their effects on parenting behaviors. Here, we assess the relationship between drinking during the Super Bowl and on Valentine's Day to determine whether they differ. Methods: Participants, recruited from social media, completed a 40-min baseline survey and 14 days of three daily Ecological …

What Are The Ethics Of Ai In Relation To The Nasw Code Of Ethics?, Lea Saga

AI Assignment Library

The use of Artificial intelligence (AI) in the social work profession is an emerging area of practice. AI promises to revolutionize the way we work by using computer systems to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning from experience, reasoning, problem-solving and understanding natural language. The use of AI has raised questions about how to harness its benefits, mitigate its risks, and ensure it aligns with the values and standards in the NASW Code of Ethics. What are the ethics of AI, including issues related to informed consent; managing risks and benefits; and ensuring that AI respects …

Leader-Member Exchange And The Effect Of Deaf Identity On Relationship Quality, David Hylan Jr., Melissa J. Hawthorne

JADARA

The focus of this study was the relationship between leaders and their team members and how Deaf identity can predict the quality of that relationship. Employment and personal identity are often linked, and this is true of Deaf identity. This study explores how Deaf identity impacts leader-member exchanges and seeks to identify components of Deaf identity that promote better workplace experiences. The results of a Pearson r correlation analysis supported a significant positive correlation between the Deaf Acculturation Scale score and the Leader-Member Exchange 7 questionnaire score. A linear regression analysis indicated that Deaf identity was a significant predictor of …

Psychometric Properties And Refinement Of The Att-Ipv Scale To Measure Attitudes About Intimate Partner Violence Among Married Adolescents And Their Husbands In Niger, Ruvani W. Fonseka, Sneha Challa, Jay G. Silverman

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

(1) Background: This study sought to assess the appropriateness of a five-item scale to measure attitudes towards IPV (ATT-IPV) among married adolescent girls and their husbands in Niger, a population in which this scale has not yet been tested. (2) Methods: Using data collected from 1100 pairs of married adolescents, aged 13–19 years old, and their husbands across 48 villages in rural Niger, we performed classical test theory reliability and exploratory factor analysis, followed by item response theory (IRT) analyses and testing differential item functioning (DIF) by gender. (3) Results: The ATT-IPV scale was found to be internally consistent (alpha …

Psychometric Properties Of The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (Sbq-R) In American Sign Language, Jared A. Embree, Amanda M. Hinson-Enslin, Kathy Taylor, Josephine Wilson

JADARA

Limited research has focused on the risk of suicide within the deaf community, and no published studies to date report SBQ-R scores in deaf populations. The purpose of this study was to adapt the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised into American Sign Language (SBQ-R-ASL). After the translation protocol was completed, the SBQ-R-ASL was field-tested with 340 deaf individuals in a national sample. Data analysis indicated satisfactory validity and internal consistency, and a Principal Components Analysis resulted in one factor. Field-test data revealed a mean SBQ-R-ASL score of 8.76, which is above published cutoff scores for suicide risk. These findings demonstrate a crucial …

A Feminist Approach To Solutions In Urban Development, Lourdes Yessenia Gracia Cantu

Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering: Sustainability and Development Capstone Projects

Are there ways of occupying space and producing places that somehow contest, challenge, and problematize the dominant modalities of organization, of space and place?

A Feminist Approach to Solutions in Urban Development presents an exploration and proposal of a more equitable and diverse urban design that guarantees the use of public space as a place for economic development. With a focus on the recent theory and social movement concerning the impact of the built environment on women, children and older adults, urban feminist, comes across as a participatory planning process that ensures the involvement of multilevel agendas, to react and …

Incarceration Effects On Children And Families, Sharon Rose

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Children of incarcerated parents have been found to experience long-term trauma as an effect of parental incarceration. There is little information regarding resources and programs available to these children to mitigate these issues. This study aims to identify recurring themes experienced by children and families separated by incarceration which cause negative long-term issues. The study will identify these overlaps and identify plans that can be implemented by social service agencies to alleviate and diminish the rates at which children are affected by incarceration. The researcher will conduct individual interviews with participants to complete an exploratory cross-sectional study. Data gathered from …

Barriers And Challenges That Lgbtq+ Individuals Face When Acquiring Mental Health Care Services., Stephanie Nunez-Rivera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to address the challenges and barriers that LGBTQ+ individuals face when accessing mental health care services. This research is significant because though LGBTQ+ community faces many challenges such as discrimination and trauma, which greatly affect their mental health, yet LGBTQ+ specific mental health care is not widely available. This unavailability has resulted in only 12.6% of mental health care institutions having LGBTQ+ specific mental health care services. In addition, the small percentage of LGBTQ+ programs that are available in mental health institutions are not available in every city or region, which has resulted in …

Students' Educational Outcomes For Hybrid Msw Program, Carolina Profeta

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed post-secondary social work program mode of learning throughout the nation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, social work program transitioned from in-person to hybrid a modality. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of the social work program’s hybrid modality on students’ learning outcomes. Specifically, this study will examine participants’ cognitive presence, perceived effectiveness, and student perceptions. This study is important, as there is no research on social work program’s hybrid modality on students’ learning outcomes. This is a quantitative study and uses online surveys to gather results. The ANOVA and chi …